Snappy and frisky from the start, Balu Brigada began as a quartet in Auckland, its name fittingly riffing on the irrepressible Baloo from The Jungle Book. Eventually pared down to the core duo of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley, the alt-pop act pens lovestruck tunes that are as catchy as an ad jingle. Observe 2020’s “Moon Man” and 2021’s “Number One”—both dripping with romantic charisma—and 2022’s “Designer,” which openly flirts with yacht rock. After the siblings relocated to Brooklyn in 2023, they drew upon both The Strokes’ sonic legacy and the pitfalls of modern dating for 2024’s “So Cold,” yielding a minor hit in their adopted America. Like fellow Antipodean export Royel Otis, Balu Brigada writes instant earworms that manage to feel at once earnest and easygoing. Their 2025 track “The Question” mingles purred bedroom vocals with a baggy, nostalgic beat, while the same year’s “Learn to Let You Go” enlists German duo Zimmer90 for a warm yet weepy gem.